Table-chair combination



Nov. 3, 1964 J. w. ROCKWELL TABLE-CHAIR COMBINATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1963 KL m N v EK VMW d w 6 0 WM W B ATTORNEYS Nov. 3, 1964 Filed June 19-, 1963" J. W. ROCKWELL TABLE -CH'AIR COMBINATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JARVIS w. ROCKWELL BY Q/m, MM4l w ATTORNEYS Nov. 3, 1964 J. w. ROCKWELL TABLE-CHAIR COMBINATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 19, 1963 Ema-.4. 32

INVENTOR. JARVIS w ROCKWELL i/0mg uJ4Mu ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,155,426 TABLE-CHAIR QOMBENATEQN Jarvis W. Rockwell, Chicago, Ill, assignor to South Bend Toy Manufacturing (lompany, The, South Bend, End, a corporation of Endiana Filed June 119, 1963, her. No. 289,099 11 Claims. (6i. 297-436) The present invention relates to a table-chair combination, and more particularly to a unique arrangement whereby an infants or dolls chair may be removably supported inside the surface of a table top. At the time infants reach an age at which they are learning to feed themselves, they are customarily placed in highchairs equipped with a tray for supporting food dishes and the like. As a precautionary measure, some of the highchairs are equipped with devices for preventing the infants from falling out. In addition to highchairs, feeding tables have been conventionally used in which a seat is fixedly and sometimes foldably mounted in a table top such that while the infant is in the seat, the table surface completely surrounds him. Such seats are also conventionally provided with safety devices for strapping the infant in to avoid accidental falling.

In the past, such feeding tables have taken the form of a single, unitary structure having utility only as a feeding table, the seat being securely mounted on the table so as not to be usable independently thereof. In some of the prior art designs, the seat has been foldable into the table and the table otherwise collapsible, such that it could be easily transported from one place to another.

The present invention relates to a table-chair combination wherein the chair may be conveniently and safely mounted on the table to provide a feeding table combination and alternatively may be used independently of the table as an ordinary chair.

It is an object of this invention to provide a table-chair combination wherein a chair is removably mounted on a table to provide a feeding-table combination.

It is another object of this invention to provide a table chair combination wherein the chair portion of a feeding table can be used separately and independently of the table in a facile and convenient manner.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a table-chair combination which is simple in design, economical to manufacture, and facile to use.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof partially sectioned for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view;

FlG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional illustration taken substantially along section line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5a is a partial sectional View of a different table top structure;

FIG. 5b is a fragmentary sectional view of the table top of FIG. 5a with the legs secured thereto;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the chair which constitutes a part of the combination of the preceding figures; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional illustration taken substantially along section line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, a table top, generally indicated by the 3,155,426 Patented Nov. 3, 1964 reference numeral 10, may be fabricated of conventional material, such as wood, metal or plastic, which is rigid and capable of supporting a doll or child. As shown in FIG. 4, the table is of square design and preferably is provided with a depending perimetral flange 12 for reinforcing the edges of the table top. For purposes of convenience in describing and explaining the invention, the portion of the table indicated by numeral 14 is regarded as the front and portion 16 as the rear. Midway between the lateral edges of the table top and toward the rear thereof in the position shown in FIG. 4 is an opening, generally indicated by numeral 18. With respect to the position and size of this opening 18, the drawing in FIG. 4 is to scale.

This opening 18 is relatively wide and has opposite lateral edges 20, a front edge 22 and rear edge 24. The lateral edges 20 are substantially straight and angled inwardly, rearwardly of the table, toward each other. The front edge 22 is curved substantially to the shape shown and extends laterally beyond the positions of edges 20 to provide the outwardly curved portions indicated by numeral 26. These curved portions 26 curve smoothly into the front extremities of lateral edges 20. Rear edge 24 is provided with two rearwardly curved pocket portions 28 which are laterally spaced apart as shown for a purpose which will be explained more fully later on.

For supporting the table top 10, crossed legs 30 are provided which consist of a pair of U-shaped tubular members 32 removably connected to the underside of the table top as shown more clearly in FIG. 5. The crossbar portions of these tubular members 32 removably fit into a slot provided by spring element 34 secured to the underside of the table top. When it is desired to collapse the legs and table, it is only necessary to remove the cross-bar portions of members 32 from brackets 34 and fold legs 30 into a substantially flat unit. An alternative arrangement is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. The table top 10a is formed of sheet metal to the shape shown with the edges of opening 20 and flange 12a being rolled. The cross-bar portions 33 are fitted into the raised perimetral portion 11 of the table and are secured to flanges 12a by means of suitable metal screws 35. The rolled edges are stiff and reinforce the sheet metal of the top I lila such that a weight, such as the chair of FIGS. 1-3,

can be supported.

Removably assembled to the table top 10 and inserted into opening 18 is a chair 36 having opposite sides 38, a backrest 40, and two arm rests 42. This chair may be fabricated of either wood or plastic and in any event should be strong enough to support any infant or object which is to be placed thereinto. Adjacent the bottom portions of sides 38 is a seat 44. The drawings illustrate the relative positions of the chair and table as well as the various parts of the chair with respect to the table top. The sides 38 are flat and extend downwardly from the table top 10 as shown. Also, these sides 38 are angled rearwardly toward each other as shown more clearly in FIG. 4 with the angulation thereof coinciding with that of edges 20. The spacing between these sides 38 is made such that the outer surfaces thereof will engage edges 20 in the position shown in FIG. 4 such that backrest 40 is spaced forwardly of rear edge 24. The angled edges 20 thereby serve as an abutment or stop which limits movement of the chair toward the rear of opening 18.

The arm rests 42 are provided with laterally outwardly extending portions or flanges 46 having elongated fiat surfaces 48 on the under side thereof which overlie and rest on the marginal surface portions of the table top 19 adjacent the edges Ztl. By means of these overhanging arms rests or flanges 46, the chair is suspended in the opening it; and supported directly from the table top 10.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the backrest 40 extends above and below the table top such that an infant or doll seated in the chair will be comfortably positioned to use the table top for play or feeding purposes.

The front 50 of the chair is positioned adjacent to the forward extremity 62 of the lateral edges 20. This positions the front edge 22 of the opening 18 well for ward of the chair front 56 and the curved edges 26 laterally outwardly beyond the chair sides as shown.

In using the table-chair combination described thus far as a toy, dolls of conventional size and design may be conveniently placed in and removed from the chair while the latter is suspended in the opening 18. Conventional dolls in an erect posture have legs which are normally straight and life-like. Such dolls are also foldable toa sitting position; however, in order for the doll to be self-supporting in sitting position, the doll legs are so formed that they will swing outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4. It will now be obvious that the curved portions 26 in the front edge 22 are proportioned to accommodate the dolls feet when the doll, in sit-ting posture, is seated into or removed from the chair. This permits easy manipulation of the doll with respect to the chair and the table top. When the present invention is used as a toy, it is desirable that the chair sides 33 be spaced apart a distance which approximates the size of the doll, such that a doll which occupies the majority of the space inside the chair will have legs which spread outwardly beyond such sides. The curved portions 26 permit the matching of the doll to the chair and at the same time provide for easy manipulation of the doll in placing it into and removing it from the chair.

The chair 36 may be provided with four feet 54 by which the chair may be supported on a floor surface or the like. However, as another unique feature of this invention, the chair 36 is formed into a rocker by means of a pair of wire supports which are generally indicated by the reference numeral 56. These wire supports 56 are formed identically such that a description of one will suffice for both. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the support 56 is formed of a relatively stiff, strong wire which is bent to provide a rocker 58. This rocker 58 extends beneath the chair 36 and has front and rear portions 60 and 62, respectively, which extend forwardly and rearwardly of the chair as shown. The rear portion 62 is bent to extend vertically, thereby providing an upright supporting element 64 which passes through the table opening 18 and secures to the back side of the backrest 40 at 66. Any suitable means of securing this upright 64 to the backrest may be used, one such means being the insertion of the upper end of the element 64 into a suit-able socket in the backrest.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pockets 28 in the opening 18 are made to such size that the rear rocker portions 62 may clear the rear edge 24 when the chair is lifted out of the opening. This is an important size relationship inasmuch as it permits easy manipulation of the chair into and out of the opening 18.

As will now be apparent, the chair 36 is dimensioned so that it can be easily inserted into or removed from the opening 18 as may be desired. With the chair mounted in the table top as just described, a feeding table arrangement is provided. On the other hand, if it is desired to use the chair separate and apart from the table top, it is only necessary to lift the chair out of the opening 18 and then rest the chair on a suitable supporting surface. Thus, the chair has alternative uses, one with the table top and the other by itself, independent of the table.

As explained previously, the opening edges are tapered rearwardly and are engaged by the tapered sides of the chair. With such engagement, the edges 20 serve as abu-tments which space the backrest 4t) forwardly of the rear edge 24. Being thus spaced, the upright wire portions 64 of the supporting elements 56 are spaced forwardly of the rear edge 24 and cannot under any circumstances be moved rearwardly far enough so as to engage the rear edge 24. Such an engagement could damage the upright wire portions 64, by bending them, and thereby destroy the purpose of the rocker supports 56. Since tiny children are notorious in their rough handling of toys, it is seen that the tapered arrangement of the edges 26 and chair sides 38 prevent the rear upright portions 64 from being damaged.

The angulation of the edges 24 and sides 38 also serve another useful purpose. When it is desired to remove the chair from the opening 18, the chair is gently moved forwardly in the opening 18, thereby spacing the chair sides 38 from the edges 20. The chair may thereupon be freely lifted from the table without scufiing the chair sides or damaging the edges 20.

While the principles of this invention have been described in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A chair-table combination comprising a flat table top having a depending perimetral reinforcing flange, an opening in said table top having opposite lateral edges and front and rear edges, said lateral edges having straight portions which are laterally opposite each other, said straight portions rearwardly angling inwardly toward each other whereby the rear lateral dimension of said opening is shorter than the forward lateral dimensions thereof, said front edge being curved forwardly and extending laterally beyond said lateral edges, the opposite ends of said front edge curving rearwardly and inwardly to join the forward extremities of said straight portions, respectively, the opposite end portions of said rear edge curving rearwardly to provide two laterally spaced pocket portions, respectively, four supporting legs secured at the upper ends thereof to the under side of said table top; a chair removably inserted into said opening and being supported by said table top, said chair having opposite lateral sides provided with arm rests thereon, respectively, said arm rests having flange portions along the lengths thereof, respectively, which extend laterally outwardly beyond said sides, respectively, said flanges having elongated substantially horizontal and flat surfaces on the underside thereof, respectively, which overlie and rest on the marginal surfaces of said table top adjacent to said lateral edges, respectively, said sides being angled rearwardly toward each other and engaged with said lateral edges, respectively, as an abutment, said chair having a back rest which extends above and below said table top and is spaced forwardly of said rear edge, said sides extending below said table top and having a seat therebetween which is also below said table top, said chair being spaced rearwardly of said front edge with the front portion of said chair substantially coinciding with the forward extremities of said straight edge portions, and said sides being upright and having a spacing therebetween which is no wider than said opening whereby said chair may be lifted free of said table top, a pair of wire supports mounted on said chair, said wire supports being bent to include rocker portions thereon which are disposed beneath said chair in laterally spaced relation, said rocker portions extending beyond the front and rear portions, respectively, of said chair, the front portions of said rocker portions being attached to the front portion of said chair, the rear portions of said rocker portions bending upwardly into upright elements which are secured at the upper ends thereof to said backrest, said upright elements being spaced from and substantially parallel to said backrest, said upright elements extending through said table top opening and being spaced forwardly of said rear edge, said upright elements being received by said pocket portions, respectively, said pocket portions being of a size as will permit passage of said rocker portions through said table top opening when said chair is lifted free from said table.

2. A chair-table combination comprising a fiat table top, an opening in said table top having opposite lateral edges and front and rear edges, said lateral edges having straight portions which are laterally opposite each other, said straight portions rearwardly angling inwardly toward each other whereby the rear lateral dimension of said opening is shorter than the forward lateral dimensions thereof, the opposite end portions of said rear edge curving rearwardly to provide two laterally spaced pocket portions, respectively; a chair removably inserted into said opening and being supported by said table top, said chair having opposite lateral sides provided with arm rests thereon, respectively, means including said arm rests for suspending said chair from said table top, means on said chair engageable with said lateral edges, respectively, for limiting the rearward movement of said chair in said opening, and said sides being upright and having a spacing therebetween which is no Wider than said opening whereby said chair may be lifted free of said table top, a pair of wire supports mounted on said chair, said wire supports being bent to include rocker portions thereon which are disposed beneath said chair in laterally spaced relation, said rocker portions extending beyond the front and rear portions, respectively, of said chair, the front portions of said rocker portions being attached to the front portion of said chair, the rear portions of said rocker portions bending upwardly into upright elements which are secured at the upper ends thereof to said backrest, said upright elements being spaced from and substantially parallel to said backrest,

said upright elements extending through said table top opening and being spaced forwardly of said rear edge, said upright elements being received by said pocket portions, respectively, said pocket portions being of a size as will permit passage of said rocker portions through said table top opening when said chair is lifted free from said table.

3. A chair-table combination comprising a flat table top, an opening in said table top having opposite lateral edges and front and rear edges, said lateral edges having straight portions which are laterally opposite each other, said straight portions rearwardly angling inwardly toward each other whereby the rear lateral dimension of said opening is shorter than the forward lateral dimensions thereof, the opposite end portions of said rear edge curving rearwardly to provide two laterally spaced pocket portions, respectively; a chair removably inserted into said opening and being supported by said table top, said chair having opposite lateral sides provided with arm rests thereon, respectively, said arm rests having flange portions along the lengths thereof, respectively, which extend laterally outwardly beyond said sides, respectively, said flanges having horizontally spaced portions on the underside thereof, respectively, which overlie and rest on the marginal surface portions of said table top adjacent to said lateral edges, respectively, means on said chair engageable With said table top, respectively, for limiting the rearward movement of said chair in said opening, and said sides being upright and having a spacing therebetween which is no wider than said opening whereby said chair may be lifted free of said table top, said chair having portions Which project rearwardly thereof and which are received in spaced relation by said pocket portions, respectively.

4. A chair-table combination comprising a flat table top, an opening in said table top having opposite lateral edges and front and rear edges, said lateral edges having straight portions which are laterally opposite each other, said straight portions rearwardly angling inwardly toward each other whereby the rear lateral dimension of said opening is shorter than the forward lateral dimensions thereof; a chair removably inserted into said opening and being supported by said table top, said chair having opposite lateral sides provided with arm rests thereon, respectively, said arm rests having flange portions along the lengths thereof, respectively, which extend laterally outwardly beyond said sides, respectively, said flanges having surfaces on the underside thereof, respectively, which overlie and rest on the marginal surfaces of said table top adjacent to said lateral edges, respectively, said sides being angled rearwardly toward each other and portions thereof being engageable with said lateral edges, respectively, as an abutment, said chair having a backrest which extends above and below said table top and is spaced forwardly of said rear edge, said sides extending below said table top and having a seat therebetween which is also below said table top, and said sides being upright and having a spacing therebetween which is no wider than said opening whereby said chair may be lifted free of said table top.

5. A chair-table combination comprising a flat table top having an opening therein, said opening having 0pposite lateral edges and front and rear edges, said lateral edges having straight portions which are laterally opposite each other, said straight portions rearwardly angling toward each other whereby the rear lateral dimension of said opening is shorter than the forward lateral dimensions thereof, means for supporting said table top, a chair removably inserted into said opening and being supported by said table top, said chair having opposite lateral sides provided with arm rests thereon, respectively, means including said arm rests for suspending said chair from said table top, portions 'of said sides of said chair being engageable with side lateral edges, respectively, for limiting the rearward movement of said chair in said opening, the front portion of said chair being spaced rearwardly from said front edge, and said sides being upright and having a spacing therebetween which is no wider than said opening whereby said chair may be lifted free of said table top.

6. A chair-table combination comprising a flat table top having an opening therein, said opening having opposite lateral edges and front and rear edges, said lateral edges having straight portions which are laterally opposite each other, said straight portions rearwardly angling toward each other whereby the rear lateral dimension of said openiing is shorter than the forward lateral dimensions thereof, mean for supporting said table top, a chair removably inserted into said opening and being supported by said table top, said chair having arm rests thereon, means including said arm rests for suspending said chair from said table top, and means on said chair engageable with lateral edges, respectively, for limiting the rearward movement of said chair in said opening.

7. A chair-table combination comprising a hat table top having an opening therein, said opening having opposite lateral edges and front and rear edges, said lateral edges rearwardly angling toward each other whereby the rear lateral dimension of said opening is shorter than the forward lateral dimensions thereof, means for supporting said table top, a chair removably inserted into said opening and being supported by said table top, said chair having opposite lateral sides provided with arm rests thereon, respectively, means including said arm rests for suspending said chair from said table top, portions carried by the sides of said chair engageable with said top for limiting the rearward movement of said chair in said opening, the front portion of said chair being spaced rearwardly from said front edge, and said chair having dimensions no wider or longer than said opening whereby said chair may be lifted free of said table top.

8. A chair-table combination comprising a fiat table top having an opening therein, said opening having opposite lateral edges and front and rear edges, said lateral edges angling toward each other, a chair removably inserted into said opening and being supported by said table top, said chair having opposite lateral sides provided with arm rests thereon, respectively, said sides having portions engageable with said lateral edges as an abutment, means including said arm rests for suspending said chair from said table top, and said sides being upright and having a spacing therebetween which is no Wider than said opening whereby said chair may be lifted free of said table top.

9. The chair-table combination of claim 1 wherein said table top is of sheet metal and the edges of said opening and flange being rolled to provide reinforcement, said supporting legs being of U-shaped pairs with the cross-bars thereof engaging the opposite inner sides of said flange, said cross-bars being secured to said inner sides, respectively, for supporting said table top.

10. The chair-table combination of claim 1 wherein said table top is of sheet metal and the edges of said opening and said flange being rolled to provide reinforcement, said supporting legs being of U-shaped pairs with the cross-bars thereof being straight, said table top having a raised perimetral portion contiguous to said flange, said perimetral portion being of inverted U-shaped crosssection, the cross-bars of said pairs fitting into the underside of said perimetral portion on two opposite sides of said table, respectively, and being secured to said inner sides, respectively, for supporting said table top.

11. A chair-table combination comprising a flat table top having an opening therein, said opening being bounded by two lateral and front and rear edges, a chair removably inserted in said opening and being supported by said table top, said chair having laterally extending elements thereon which overlie and removably engage Surface portions of said top adjacent to said opening for supporting said chair on said table top, and cooperating means on the opposite sides of said chair and table top which are removably engageable with each other for limiting rearward movement of said chair with respect to said table top, said cooperating means being disposed be. tween the front and rear edges of said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,074,012 Pollard Sept. 23, 1913 1,176,811 Bobbitt Mar. 28, 1916 2,514,735 Wilson et aI July 11, 1950 2,588,754 Novi Mar. 11, 1952 2,724,427 McCarson Nov. 22, 1955 2,746,524 Brand et al May 22, 1956 2,812,012 Hansburg Nov. 5, 1957 2,959,211 Buck Nov. 8, 1960 2,969,830 Thomps n Jan. 31, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 54,555 Sweden May 16, 1923 UNITED STATES OFFICE I CERTIFUICATE} OF @CQRREUHQN I Patent No. 3 155.426 -'November 3, 1964 It is hereby certified that error appears in the above'numbeied patent. requ ring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent 'should read as v corrected below Column 3 line i v for "62" read. :52 column 6, line 32 for "side" read said 'li-ne Sljafter "with" insert said I Signed and sealed this 20th day oi April 1965.

SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer 

8. A CHAIR-TABLE COMBINATION COMPRISING A FLAT TABLE TOP HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, SAID OPENING HAVING OPPOSITE LATERAL EDGES AND FRONT AND REAR EDGES, SAID LATERAL EDGES ANGLING TOWARD EACH OTHER, A CHAIR REMOVABLY INSERTED INTO SAID OPENING AND BEING SUPPORTED BY SAID TABLE TOP, SAID CHAIR HAVING OPPOSITE LATERAL SIDES PROVIDED WITH ARM RESTS THEREON, RESPECTIVELY, SAID SIDES HAVING PORTIONS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LATERAL EDGES AS AN ABUTMENT, MEANS INCLUDING SAID ARM RESTS FOR SUSPENDING SAID CHAIR FROM SAID TABLE TOP, AND SAID SIDES BEING UPRIGHT AND HAVING A SPACING THEREBETWEEN WHICH IS NO WIDER THAN SAID OPENING WHEREBY SAID CHAIR MAY BE LIFTED FREE OF SAID TABLE TOP. 